Sprinkler



March 28, 1944.

Filed Dec. 29, 1941' W. A. BUCKNER SPRINKLER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORwm.H.Buc1-.n er- HTTYS March 28, 1944. w ABUCKNER 2,345,030

SPRINKLER Filed Dec. 29; 1941 s Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOFL ATTKSwm.H..Bzzckner Patented Mar. 28, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEBuckner Manufacturing Company,

Fresno,

Calif., a copartnership consisting of William A. Buckner and HarryGleason Application December 29, 1941, Serial No. 424,691

Claims.

This invention relates to water distributin or sprinkling devices, andis more particularly related to that type of sprinkler known as thpartcircle sprinkler, wherein there is provided a sprinkling device inwhich the sprinkling head or member is adapted to be rotated step bystep for a portion of a circle in one direction, the direction ofrotation being then automatically reversed and the sprinkler headrotates step by step the same distance in the opposite direction.

Such a sprinkler is particularly adapted to the watering along edges ofthe areas to be sprinkled, and in corners, where a throw of the water ina complete circle is not desired. This present application is acontinuation in part Of application Ser. No. 261,485, filed Marchl3,1939.

Ther have been a number of prior devices developed in which the partcircle principle and the step by step movement of the sprinkler headhave been provided. However, in most of these there have been certaindefinite objections in that but a single control member has beenprovided to control the movement of the impulse arm in both directions.This has resulted in the movement of the sprinkler head bein impositiveand direction, and which control means is positively set so that theimpulse arm and the impulse vane carried thereby will be positively andindependently centered in neutral position after each swing of the armin either direction from such neutral position.

A further object of the invention is to provide positive stop means forthe impulse arm control means so that normally there is no possibilityof the impulse arm being swung and held to one side of the neutralposition, which would prevent the normal operation of the sprinkler.

A further object of the invention is to provide a new and improved andsimplified trip means for the sprinkler head rotating arm.

A further object of the invention is to so ar-' Another important objectis to produce a sprinkler which may have a full circle movement in onedirection and which may be instantly changed to have a full circlemovement in the opposite direction, either movement to be step by stepand either movement to be fast or slow at the will of the operator.

I also aim to provide a sprinkler having dual nozzles pointing in thesame direction, one for operating the sprinkler and the other for longdistance coverage; the two of them providing better coverage than can behad from a one nozzle sprinkler.

A further object of the invention is .to produce a simple andinexpensive device and yet one which will be exceedingly effective forthe purpose for which it is designed.

These objects I accomplish by means of such structure and relativearrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the followingspecification and claims.

In the drawings similar characters of reference indicate correspondingparts in the several views:

Figure l is a side elevation of the sprinkler, showing the parts in theproper position to enable the sprinkler head to be driven step by stepin a counter-clockwise direction.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional elevation of the head or body,showing the water discharging jets.

Figure 3 is a top plan of the sprinkler with the swingin impulse armremoved.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary cross-section on line 44 of Fig. 1.

Figures 5 to 8 are diagrammatic plans illustrating thedifierentpositions assumed by'the impulse arm and associated parts asthe arm travels out from its neutral position in the path of travel ofthe driving stream of water, and then back through. the stream to theopposite side thereof to impart a rotative step thereto in the manner tobe described.

Description Referring now more particularly to the characters ofreference on the drawings, the sprinkler comprises a hollow body or headI, having a depending passage spindle 2 turnably mounted in a rigid base3 adapted for connection; to a water supply stand pipe P.

The main nozzle 4 projects radially from the body at an upward angle,and has a water jet 5 at its outer end. An auxiliary nozzle 6, alsoprovided with a water jet 1, projectsradially from the body above and inparallel and overhanging relation to the nozzle 4. This nozzle 6 ispreferably shorter than the nozzle 4. Both nozzles are freely open tothe interior of the body I as shown in Fig. 2.

Above the nozzle 6 is an impulse arm 8, pivoted intermediate its ends ona pin 9 secured in and upstanding from the body approximately at rightangles to the axis of nozzle 6. At one end the arm extends beyond thejet 1 and is formed at said end with a fork H] disposed with its sideslaterally spaced. At its opposite end, the arm 8 is formed with a weightl l, A pin 12, disposed at right angles to the axis of the jet 1, ismounted in and depends from the arm 8 just back of the fork l and isdisposed at right angles tothe longitudinal axis of the jet 1. Freelyturnable on said pin for limited oscillating movement is a waterdeflecting vane 13. This vane I3 is normally disposed on a level withand in the path of any stream of 'wat'er issuing fromthe jet 1.

The vane is shaped in plan so that its sides are symmetrical to itslongitudinal axis. "Back of the pin [2 these'sides are convexlycurved,and convergeto a sharp edge E just in front of the jet 1, Whileon the opposite side of the pin said sides are concavely curved andflare out to form water engaging shoulders I i.

A stop lug l5fprojects upwardly'friom the vane and rides betweenthesides of the fork ID to limit the oscillating movement of the vane 13.The extent of mo'vement'thus permitted is such that when the arm 8 islongitudinally alined with the axis of thejet and'the lug I5 is engagedwith one side or the 'othr of the f ork thesharp edge E of the vane isthen disposed to'one side or the other of the axis of the jet, dependingon which side of the fork is then'engaged by the lug l5. Watercan thusimpinge directly against one side or the "other of the vane between thepin I2. and the jet, as clearly shown in Fig. 5.

IEixed in and 'projecting from the body i on opposite sides thr'eofarealined horizontal pins IS, on which discs llfare turnably mounted. Thepins 16 arepelow' the pin Sand their axis substantially intersects thatof'pin '9, beingalso1at right angles to the axis of the auxiliary nozzle6.7 A helical spring lfl is connected at one end to each disc, and atthe other end to a collarl'9 adjustably mounted on thecorrespondingjfixe'd pin l6, so that thetension of the spring may bealtered byadjustrnent of the collar. Each spring is enclosed in ahousing Ila preferably 'sc'rew mounted on its disc. Each spring tendstorota i sre pecti e 9 9 ha it upper edge turns toward, the nozzle. ,1This movement is limited by the engagement of a radial stop lug 23 oneach disc with a corresponding fixed stop it on the body I. Each stoplug also projects into the path of one. of two, cam fingers 22 fixed onthe arm 8 radially of pivot pin 9. These fingers 22 are disposed so thatwhen the lugs 20 are both engaged with their'corresponding stops 2!, thearm 8 is held against appreciable swinging movement, and is disposed insubstantial alinement with jet 1, as shown in Fig. 5. I

In order to'prevent one or the other of the discs fromrotating in adirection to wind up its spring, but to utilize pressure exertedagainstthe disc tending to'thus rotate the same, to rotate the sprinkleras'a whole, I providethe following structure:

A horizontal bracket 23 projects from the body opposed to the nozzles.This bracket supports b e e 'l ne o t flis li r 'parts c'ouldremainfin"thesefpositions and water an upstanding pin 24 on which thesprinkler r0- tating arm 25 is turnably mounted. This arm projectstoward the nozzles to a termination above the body between the discs ll,being formed adjacent said termination with opposed lateral shoulders26. These shoulders are disposed just back of the lugs 20 when thelatter are in their held neutral position and are adapted to bealternately projected into the path of rotation of one or the other ofthe lugs when the arm 25 is swung to one side or the other, as shown inFig.3, where it is interposed in the path of the lower lug 20 shownfinthat figure.

Tu'rnable on the pin 24 below and independent of thefarnif25 isfanotherrelatively short arm 21,

projecting toward the body I and carrying a depending reverse-controlstem 28 on its outer end. I This stem projects through a movementlimiting slot 29 in the bracket 23 and between a 'pair'ofcircumferentially and independently adjustable movement limiting stopiineers 30 mounted on and projecting from the basej substantially radialthereof. A snap action spring unit 3| connects the arms2l and '25,.andjacts to cause'the arm25to suddenly reverse its position when the stem28, with the rotation jof the tion about the a'xis'offthe b'ase3.However, in

the present instanc'e, the sprinklerhead is not designed to make suchcomplete revolution. "It is constructed and arranged to fir stmake astep by tep mo eme ti a p rt lb a i b revolution. and to then reverseangli r nake ai ste p by step movement in the,reversedir ctionLforlthesame distance as the.firstn1ovement. This step by step movement first inone direction and then the other is continued until the desiredperi'odof' irrigation has elapsed.

As will be noted fromthe foregoing description of the parts whenthes'pririRIer is i'nfneutrali'or non-operatingposition the impulse arm"8 is held by "the springs lfl so that it'extends substantially parallelto and a'bove jthen'o'zzle jets 5 and I, and if the stop lug I 5 iscentered between thej'sides of the fork I O, the innensliarp'e'dge E ofthe vane l 3 is positioned immediately "across jet 1. f r the wasdischargedf rom the jet lipr o'tiabi y no movement of thejsprinmer' headwould take place.

Assuming, then, 'that itis sired ito 'operate the sprinkler 'and'to'start it'sfstep by step move- .ment a counter-clockwise directiomfthe"deflecting vane l 3 is moved on *its v'ot l2 until the curved side Athereof 'is opposed to any stream of water to be projected: frorn't'hejet Lassho'wn in Fig. 5. The reverse cbhtrol'stem '28" is then moved toa point which woul'd'ause the snap action spring Z'Lto throw the lefthandstop shoulder 2.26 into thepath of'movement'ofthe s iflmsshqwe in,fe-..'3.-- Th w e the water is turn d ete th s inkl h adfe i the streamor jet is discharged from" the nozzle 1, it strikes against the surfaceA and swings the arm 8 clockwise.

Immediately after the initiation of this clockwise movement, suchmovement brings the-shoulder [4 which extends from the side A into thepath ofthe water'jet issuing from the nozzle 1 as shown in Fig. 6, andthe impulse imparted thereto by such water jet turns the vane I3 onitspivot 12 so that it assumes a position reverse to that which it hadwhen the movement of the impulse arm was initiated. -This reverseposition of this vane 13 can be seen in Fig. 7. v

The initial impact of the water jet against the side A throws the arm 8-in the outward clockwise movement with considerable force, and thisswingcontinues'until the right-hand cam finger 22 engages the right handstop lug 20 on the right hand disc H, and causes that disc to rotateagainst the tension of its correspondin spring i8. When this resistanceof the spring l8 has been built up to a sufficient degree to overcomethe force .of the swing of the arm 8, the spring then reacts to causethe stop lug 20 to act against the cam finger 22 and return the arm 8 toa positive neutral position. Since the .bottom part of the lug 20 comesto rest against the stop lug IS on the body I, the action of the springcan do no more than to return such arm 8 to its neutral position,

As the arm 8 returns to neutral position, it is of course carrying withit the vane, I3, which has been turned to the position shown in Fig. '7,in the manner described. Thus, as the arm 8 reaches neutral position,the face C of the vane l3 ispresented to the impact of the waterdischarging from the jet 1. This impact then immediately imparts to thearm 8 a reverse or counter-clockwise swing, and as this swing isinitiated, the force of the water strikes the right hand shoulder IA ofthe vane 13, and again reverses the position of that vane so that itreturns to that position shown in Fig. 5, where it is in positiontopermit the arm 8 to be again thrown with a clockwise movement when thevaneagain-enters the stream as the arm 8 is returned to neutral positionafter its counter-clockwise swing.

As the arm 8 is given this counter-clockwise movement, the left-hand camfinger 22 strikes the left-hand stop member 20, which in turn strikesthe shoulder 26, which at this time [blocks the path of the movement ofthe stop member 20.

Since the shoulder 26 is on the head rotating arm 25, which is in turnassociated with the head I, this impact imparts partial rotativemovement to the head itself carrying the nozzles 4. and 6 in acounter-clockwise movement fora short distance. The left-hand spring I8then reacts to move the left-handstop member 20 against the left-handcam finger 22 and. again return the impulse arm 8 to neutral position,at which time the surface A is again presented to the Water jet and theabove described cycle of movement commences over again. 7

Under the cycle of movement described above, the sprinkler headis movedstep by step in a counter-clockwise direction for such arc of move mentas is desired. This are of movement is predetermined -by the setting ofthe stop fingers 39. If a 90 arc of movementis desired, they are set 90apart. If a 180? are of movement is desired, they are set 180 apart.

When the sprinkler has moved counter-clockwise through suchpredetermined arc, the reverse control stem 28 engages the sprinklerrighthand fingerrill and the continued movement ofnthe head causes thestem 28 to be moved across from one side of'the bracket 23 to the other.This causes thesnap action spring unit 3| to function to throw the'headrotating arm 25 to the other side of the head I and bring the right-handshoulder 26 into the path of the right-hand stop 20. When this is done,the entire cycle of movement is reversed, so that the arm 8 will thenswing freely to the left side as it had previously swung freely'to'theright side. Then as it passes through the stream and swings to the rightside, the blocked movement ofthe right-hand stop 20 engaging theright-hand shoulder 26 will impart rotary movement to the sprinkler headin a clockwise direction and in step by step relation, just as it hadpreviously imparted a like movement in a counter-clockwise direction.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that'the swing of thearm in either direction and the movement imparting action thereof to thehead I is independently controlled on each side by the respective springl8; that is, each spring of these springs l8 acts independently on oneside only of the impulse arm to positively return it to neutralposition, and the control of its movement on either side of the head isthus independently regulated. This very definitely distinguishes fromthat type of sprinkler in which it is intended to control both movementsof the impulse arm with a single spring.

By reason of the independent control for each swing of the impulse arm,-and the factthat-the control means comes each time to a positive po-'sition, which brings the impulse arm to neutral, there is no necessityof an exceptionally fine adjustment of the spring being had.Furthermore, there is no possibility of the arm being carried and heldpast neutral position, which would cause the sprinkler to come to a stopsince, once the arm stops pa-st' neutral position, the driving vane I3is held clear of the stream of water discharging from the jet I whichfurnishes the motive power for the sprinkler.

-It will also be noted that due to the shifting vane l3, each step ofthe drive of the sprinkler is induced directly by the force of the waterstriking the vane l3 and imparting movement to the impulse arm, ascontradistinguished from the socalled reaction sprinklers and those inwhich the movement of the impulse arm is derived in one direction solelyby reason ofthe impulse arm striking an element on the sprinkler head asit returns toward neutral position under the reaction of a springdisposed substantially axially of the impulse arm anddirectly connectedthere- TwIn-my, inventionsit will-be noted that there is no directspring connection between the impulse arm andthe spring i in that theindependent springs. on ,each side-{thereof ,do not act directlyagainst. the impulse arm, but there are intermediateconnectionsincludingthe stop elements IS on the body. of ,thesprinkler,which always control the returnumovement of thestop members 20so that when-once, the impulse arm reaches neutral position, noz-furthermovement thereofcan be imparted. thereto'by the spring.

vBy. reason of this special and independent springcontrol means,thereare no parts ofthe sprinkler which-canget out of adjustment, .butthe action thereofin either orboth directions is absolutely'positive,andiis accomplished with a minimumof vibration or risk of dislocation ofoperating parts. i

ltisutoibeparticularlynoted that: another as.

vantage of my independent and positive. controlis thatv even should the:"spri-nkler standebecome slightly tilted from the vertical, as-oftenhappens in practice, the continued positiveaction of'the parts asdescribed will not beseriouslyimpaired;

which advantage is lacking; in -.other types. of part-circle sprinklers.

The reverse control ,stem28 may be made in two parts hinged at ;28a.atapointabove the stop fingers .30. the device into a full-circle insteadofnpart-circle sprinkler, it, is only necessaryto move the lower end ofthis stem 28 on its hinge point soasto clear thestop fingers-30 as shownby dottedlines in Fig. 1, leaving the head I thenifreeto' movecontinuously step by stepcompletely aboutxthe axis of the stand pipe.This full..circle movement may be either clockwise or eountereclockwise,depending on. the position at which the'stop shoulders 26 maybe set.This means of converting the device at will either-into a part-circleorfull-circle sprinkler is of a veryconsiderable practical value, as willbe obvious.

Furthermore, the tension of each of springs ,l 8 may be adjustedtoregulateF-thespeed of return of the impulse arm 8 from. aswingineither di rection. Thus, any movement of .thesprinkler head in eitherdirection may-be fast or slow at the selection of the operator.

The dual nozzles 4 and 6 both pointing, in the same direction present afeatureof; great. importance. The nozzle operates the sprinkler and thewater jetting; therefrom is diffused by the operating mechanism-into anarea close around the standpipe. Theqother nozzle 4, with its jet beinguninterrupted, throws a'stream for long distance coverage away i fromthe standpipe the two, nozzles thusmaking 'for. better distribution thancan be had from acne-nozzle sprinkler heretofore thoughtnecessary'inconnection, with part circle sprinklers.

From. the foregoing description it will be readily seen that I haveproducedsuch a device as substantially fulfills the;objects ofthezinvention asset forth herein.

.While this specification sets, forth in detail the present andpreferred construction of the device, still in praoticesuchdeviationsfrom such detail may be resorted to as donot form. a.departure from the spirit of theinvention, as defined by the appendedclaims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and useful anddesire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A rotary sprinkler comprising a sprinkler head mounted for rotationand having a nozzle projecting therefrom andprovided with a jet opening,an. impulse arm mounted for oscillatory movement on the head andhavinga-predetermined neutral position, a cam finger on the arm, a discmounted toturn on an axis on thehead, a spring tending to turn the. discimeans'onthe disc "engageable with the cam finger, means whereby.waterissuing-from the; jet opening will swing: theimpluse arm-outwardwith:the cam finger moving the disc against the resistance of thespring, the disc and spring functioning to act against the camfingerandreturnthe arm to neutral position after each outward-swing.

2. .A rotary. sprinkler comprlsing a sprinkler head mounted for rotationand having a nozzle projecting therefrom and providedwith a jet opening,an impluse arm mounted for. oscillatory movement on the head and having'a predetermined'neutral position; acarn' finger-on'thearm,

Thus, whenit is desired to convert,

a disc mounted to turn on an axis on the head, a spring tending to turnthe disc, means on the disc engageable with the cam finger,.. meanswhereby water: issuing from the jet opening will swing theimplusearmoutward with the cam finger movingthe disc against the-resistance of thespring, the disc and-spring functioning to act against the cam fingerand return the arm to neutral position after each outwardswing; a

stop means on the head and means on the disc engageable with said stopwhereby to stopthe rotation of the disc after the arm has-reachedneutral position.

3. A rotary sprinkler. comprisingv a. sprinkler head mounted for.rotation in a substantially. horizontal plane and. having a laterallyprojecting nozzle; an impulse arm mounted on the: head for rotationabouta fixed axis, meanson the arm capable of moving into thejet fromthenozzle in such a manner that the force of the jet willalternately swingthe arm first to-one side of thejet and then to the other, means wherebyeach'alternatemovement of the arm in onedirection will impart a step bystep movement of the headin one direction, the arm when in neutral.position being in substantial parallelism with the-axis of the nozzle,and opposed springs separately acting on the arm to return thesame toneutral position after any swinging movement and tending to hold the armin such neutral position.

4. A rotary sprinkler comprising a sprinkler head mounted for rotationin a substantially horizontal plane and having a laterally projectingnozzle, an impulse arm mounted on the head for rotation about a fixedaxis, means on the arm capable of moving into the jet from-the nozzle insuch a manner that the force of the jet willalternately swing the armfirst to one side of the-jet and then to the other, separate springsmounted on the head on opposite sides of said axis, means between thearmand springs to causethe tension of the springs to be alternately andtemporarily increased upon alternate swinging movements of the arm andstop means between the head and one spring engageable upon apredetermined tensioning of said spring.

5. A sprinkler as in claim 4, with means to manually control the tensionof said one spring;

6. A sprinkler as in claim 4, with means to independently and manuallycontrol the tension of the springs.

7. A sprinkler as in claim 4, with-means allowing of unwinding of thesprings to an extent only sufficient to return the arm toneutralposition; the arm when in such position lying in substantialparallelism withthe axis of the nozzle.

8. A sprinkler'as in-claime, with" means to independently and manuallycontrol the tension of the springs, and stop means allowing of unwindingof the springs to an'extent only-sulficient toreturn the arm to neutralposition irrespective of the initial tension of the springs; the armwhen in such position lying in substantial parallelism with the axis ofthe nozzle.

9; A rotary sprinkler comprising a sprinkler head mounted for rotationin asubstantially horizontal plane and having a laterally projectingnozzle,,an impulse arm mounted on the head for rotation about afixedaxis, means on the arm capable of moving into the jet fromthe nozzle insuch a manner that the force of the jet will alternately swing the armfirst to one side of the jet and then. to the other, separate springsmounted on thehead on Opposite sides of said axis, means. between: thearm and springsv to cause the tension of the springs to be alternatelyand temporarily increased upon alternate swinging movements of the armand stop means between the head and the springs alternately engageableupon a predetermined tensioning of the corresponding spring by swingingof the arm in a corresponding direction.

10. A sprinkler as in claim 9, with means to selectively andindependently control the initial tension of the springs.

11. A rotary sprinkler comprising a sprinkler head mounted for rotationin a substantially horizontal plane and having a laterally projectingnozzle, an impulse arm mounted on the head for rotation about a fixedaxis, means on the arm capable of moving into the jet from the nozzle insuch a manner that the force of the jet will alternately swing the armfirst to one side of the jet and then to the other, separate helicalsprings mounted on the head on opposite sides of said axis and disposedin axial alinement transversely of the head at right angles to the armaxis, radially projecting lugs attached to one end of the springs andmovable circumferentially about the spring axis to increase the tensionof the springs upon movement of the lugs in one direction, stop meanslimiting unwinding of the springs and corresponding movement of thelugs, cooperating stop means between the head and one spring engageableupon a predetermined movement of the corresponding lug in a springtensioning direction and opposed fingers on the arm both engaging thelugs when the same is in neutral position and the springs are unwound totheir limit.

12. A sprinkler as in claim 11 with means independently and selectivelyto adjust the initial tension of the springs without afiecting theposition of the lugs when the springs are unwound to said limit.

13. A rotary sprinkler comprising a sprinkler head mounted for rotationin a substantially horizontal plane and having a laterally projectingnozzle, an impulse arm mounted on the head for rotation about a fixedaxis, means on the arm capable of moving into the jet from the nozzle insuch a manner that the force of the jet will alternately swing the armfirst to one side of the jet and then to the other, means whereby eachalternate movement of the arm in one direction will impart a step bystep movement of the head in one direction, th arm when in neutralposition being in substantial parallelism with the axis of the nozzle, aspring to returnthe arm to said neutral position after the arm has swungin one direction, another spring adapted to be tensioned upon swingingmovement of the arm in the other direction and functioning tosubsequently return the arm to a neutral position and stop means betweenthe head and said other spring engageable in a manner to cause rotationof the head upon a predetermined tensioning of said last named spring.

14. A sprinkler as in claim 13, with means to selectively andindependently adjust the initial tension of the springs.

15. In a rotary sprinkler, a sprinkler head mounted for rotation in asubstantially horizontal plane, means to cause a rotation of the head inone direction and means operating after the head has moved through apredetermined arc in said one direction to eiiect a rotation of the headin the reverse direction; such last named means comprising stops on thehead on opposite sides of its axis, an arm engageable at one end withthe stops alternately, means pivoting the arm at its other end on thehead, a relatively short arm pivoted in common with and below the firstnamed arm for rotation independently thereof and extending in thedirection of the one end of said first named arm, a stem depending fromthe outer end of the last named arm, circumferentially spaced stops onthe sprinkler below the head and between which the stem projects and asnap action spring unit between the arms.

WILLIAM A. BUCKNER.

